[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HERBERT CLARK AND LOU HOOVER

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, a distinguished Iowan once wrote: ``I 
prefer to think of Iowa as I saw it through the eyes of a 10-year-old 
boy. Those were eyes filled with the wonders of Iowa's streams and 
woods, of the mystery of growing crops. They saw days filled with 
adventure and great undertakings, with participation in good and 
comforting things. They saw days of stern but kindly discipline.'' That 
10-year-old Iowa boy later became the 31st President of the United 
States. Herbert Clark Hoover was the first U.S. President to be born 
west of the Mississippi River.
  President Hoover's home until he was 11 years old was in West Branch, 
IA. And the Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch is the place 
where he returned upon his death in 1964. Born into a Quaker family in 
1874, he was raised in the Quaker tradition by his parents until their 
untimely deaths. Then, he was raised by other family members. During 
his formative years, he was taught the principles of honesty, hard 
work, simplicity, and generosity.
  Herbert Hoover's life was one of great undertakings. An accomplished 
and successful engineer, he put his organizational skills to work 
during the First World War. In England at the outbreak of the war he 
helped, often with his own money, to get his fellow Americans back 
home. When Belgium was invaded and the Belgian people were in need of 
food, Herbert Hoover responded. He instituted food relief efforts as 
the head of the Belgian Relief Campaign. He organized the acquisition, 
delivery, and distribution of tens of thousands of tons of food. 
Thousands were saved from a horrible death by starvation. Herbert Clark 
Hoover proved himself to be one of the great humanitarians of the 
world.
  President Woodrow Wilson subsequently appointed Herbert Hoover as 
Food Administrator of the United States. From this position he oversaw 
the Government's food conservation program for the duration of the war.
  During the terms of Presidents Harding and Coolidge, Hoover served as 
the Secretary of Commerce. Then in the election of 1928, the people of 
this great country honored him by electing him their 31st President. It 
is important to note that during his public service, Herbert Clark 
Hoover did not accept a salary from the people. His reward was in his 
service to his fellow Americans. I wonder how many of us today are 
prepared to do the same.
  Honesty, hard work, simplicity, and generosity--the principles that 
Herbert Hoover learned as a boy and practiced all of his adult life. 
These are principles which all of us try to teach our children. Once 
learned and once practiced, they can change the world.
  Lou Henry Hoover, a Waterloo, IA native, was active alongside her 
husband. She was the first Iowan to be First Lady. Such a splendid 
couple they made together.
  Lou Hoover received eight honorary degrees in recognition of her 
public service. Twice she was president of the Girl Scouts of America. 
While in that position, she began the Girl Scouts cookie sales program, 
which has become an American tradition.
  Lou also promoted women's athletics, helping to found the National 
Amateur Athletic Federation. She served as president of the Women's 
Division from 1922 to 1940.
  Significantly, in 1929, First Lady Lou Henry Hoover broke the White 
House racial barrier by entertaining the wife of Oscar DePriest, a 
black Congressman from Chicago.
  Many Americans are cynical of those of us in public life today. They 
think of us as being self-serving. This is unfortunate. This is not 
healthy for our country. Perhaps if we look closely at the lives of men 
and women like Herbert and Lou Hoover and try to follow more closely in 
their footsteps of humanitarianism, dedication to public service, and 
the spirit of giving freely of themselves, we could begin to regain 
more of the public's trust.
  Iowans proudly gave up the Hoovers to the world. And when the Hoovers 
gave up this world, Iowans were deeply honored that they chose to 
return home to Iowa. Herbert and Lou Hoover--great humanitarians of the 
world--exemplify the Iowa spirit.

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